Window Screen Mesh Options in Tampa Bay

Every one of them goes into the same aluminum frame, so the choice is only about the window and what it faces.

Standard fiberglass is the mesh most window screens come with, and for most windows it is the right choice. It lets the most air through, gives the clearest view out, and keeps out mosquitoes, flies and other insects. It does not rust or dent, which matters on homes near salt water.

A dog that leans on a screen, or a cat that climbs one, goes through standard fiberglass mesh sooner or later, and often more than once. Pet-resistant mesh is a thicker, vinyl-coated polyester made to take claws and pushing that would tear standard mesh. It is the heavy duty window screen mesh for homes with pets.

It costs more than standard mesh and is a little less see-through, so most homes only need it where the pets are: the sliding screen door, and the low windows a dog can reach or a cat sits in. We do pet screen installation on window screens and sliding screen doors, at your home.

No-see-ums are small enough to get through standard mesh. No-see-um mesh is woven tighter, with openings too small for most of them, and looks much like standard mesh from inside. The trade-off is a little less airflow.

It makes the most sense on the windows that face the water and the ones you keep open in the evening. The screen also has to fit: a tight weave in a bent frame still leaves a gap.

Solar mesh is a denser weave that blocks much of the sun's heat and glare before it reaches the glass. On windows that take the afternoon sun, it keeps the room cooler and cuts the glare on screens and floors.

There is a trade-off: the view out is darker, and the room gets a little less daylight. During the day it is harder to see in from outside, which many people like. At night, with the lights on inside, that reverses. Most homes put solar window screens only on the windows that face the sun, and standard mesh on the rest.

There is no single best window screen material. The best one is the one that matches the window:

Most homes end up with two or three kinds. Tell us which windows face the sun, the water or the pets, and we will suggest a mix. You can send photos with your quote request.

Our post on the best window screens for Florida homes also covers fit, frames near salt water and hurricane season.

The sliding screen door takes more wear than any window screen, and it is where pets do the most damage. Pet-resistant mesh is the most common upgrade on a sliding screen door.

New mesh in a sliding screen door is part of our sliding screen door repair, so the rollers and track can be done in the same visit.